Seven Lions of the MGM Logo

When you think of the MGM lion, you might picture just one animal, but eleven real lions actually contributed to that iconic roar and logo over the decades. Slats never made a sound on screen, while Jackie became the first to roar in 1928. Tanner, George, and Leo each left their mark across Hollywood history. In 2021, MGM replaced live footage with a fully CGI lion. There's far more to each lion's story than you'd expect.

Key Takeaways

• Slats, the first MGM lion, never roared on screen; he simply looked around during silent-era films from 1924 to 1928.
• Jackie was the first lion to roar on screen in 1928, with his roar assembled from three separate gramophone recordings.
• Tanner, who reigned from 1934 to 1956, provided the original sampled lion roar used in the logo for decades.
• George, MGM's seventh lion, lasted roughly two years; his logo footage was later reused on Canadian VHS releases in 1988.
• Leo, born at Dublin Zoo, assumed the role in 1957 and remains the most enduring MGM lion at approximately 69 years.

The Origins of MGM's Lion Logo and What It Means

When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer formed in 1924 through the merger of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, and Louis B. Mayer Pictures, you can trace its iconic lion logo back to Howard Dietz's creative vision. Working as an ad executive and publicist, Dietz drew inspiration from Columbia University's athletic team, The Lions, originally developing the concept around 1916 for Goldwyn Pictures Corporation.

The lion's branding symbolism wasn't accidental — it represented power, excellence, and dominance, perfectly capturing Hollywood's ambitions. The initial logo featured a live lion inside a circle, surrounded by film reel ribbons and the Latin motto "Ars Gratia Artis," meaning "Art for Art's Sake." As corporate evolution shaped MGM's identity, these foundational design elements established a visual language that would endure for decades. In 1965, the classic lion design underwent a significant transformation when Lippincott redesigned the mark into a stylized version, which later appeared at the front of major productions including Grand Prix and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The current lion, Leo, has been the face of MGM since 1957, and in a landmark moment for the studio, Shine redesigned and animated the iconic logo in stereoscopic 3-D — the first such creation in the company's 88-year history. Much like the Harry Potter manuscript, which was rejected by twelve publishers before becoming one of the most successful stories in history, the MGM lion logo faced its own evolution through uncertainty before cementing its place as one of the most recognized symbols in entertainment.

Slats: The Silent-Era Lion Who Started It All

Born on March 20, 1919, at Dublin Zoo, Slats entered the world as Cairbre — an Irish name meaning "charioteer" — long before Hollywood would make him famous. His zookeeper relationship with trainer Volney Phifer shaped his silent performance in MGM's earliest logos. Here's what makes Slats remarkable:

1. First appearance: He debuted in He Who Gets Slapped (1924), anchoring every black-and-white MGM film through 1928.
2. Unique distinction: Unlike later lions, Slats never roared — he simply looked around silently.
3. Retirement: Jackie replaced him in 1928 when sound arrived.

Slats died in 1936 and was buried on Phifer's New Jersey farm, cementing their bond beyond Hollywood. His selection as the MGM mascot was itself the work of publicist Howard Dietz, who was inspired by Columbia University's fight song. Much like Istanbul serves as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, MGM's logo has long functioned as a symbol bridging the worlds of art and commerce in Hollywood. Much like Slats's silent presence defined an era of filmmaking, early cinema screenings were famously accompanied by live pianists or orchestras performing alongside the picture.

Jackie: The First MGM Lion to Roar on Screen

Captured from the wilds of Sudan and trained by Volney Phifer, Jackie stepped into Hollywood history in 1928 as the first MGM lion to roar on screen. Phifer's training techniques transformed Jackie from a wild lion into a cinematic icon, producing a wild roar that was recorded using primitive gramophone technology. That roar wasn't one continuous take — it consisted of three separate recordings combined to create the synchronized audio you'd hear paired with Jackie's image.

Jackie's presence dominated MGM openings from 1928 to 1956, making him the longest-serving lion in logo history. He appeared in landmark productions like The Wizard of Oz and Hollywood Revue of 1929, symbolizing MGM's bold shift into the sound era and setting the standard for every lion that followed. During a world tour promoting MGM, Jackie was temporarily renamed "Leo" for alliterative purposes, a nod to the branding that would eventually define the studio's most iconic and enduring lion logo.

MGM itself was formed following the 1924 merger of Goldwyn, Metro, and Louis B. Mayer Pictures, making Jackie's later debut all the more significant as the lion roar became a defining symbol of the newly unified studio's identity.

Tanner and George: MGM's Forgotten Transition Lions

Jackie's long reign set a high bar, but he wasn't the only lion carrying MGM's legacy forward. Tanner and George represent a fascinating cinematic shift between Jackie and the iconic Leo era.

Tanner's standout qualities you should know:

1. He reigned 22 years (1934–1956), appearing in early Tom and Jerry intros with his nostalgic roar.
2. His snarling expression made him MGM's angriest-looking lion, earning fan recreations in horror genres.
3. His logo adapted for CinemaScope in 1953, removing the marquee below the ribbon.

George followed briefly, lasting roughly two years with a heavily maned appearance in films like High Society. Together, they bridged two dominant eras seamlessly. George was actually introduced as MGM's seventh lion, with his logo later reused on Canadian VHS releases of Cinema Paradiso in 1988 by Alliance Releasing Home Video.

Tanner also served as the official mascot of MGM Cartoons, continuing to appear in their animated productions until 1967, even after Leo had already become the studio's primary logo lion.

Leo the Lion: The Face of MGM's Logo for Over 60 Years

Stepping into the role in 1957, Leo the Lion has since become the most enduring symbol in MGM's history, holding the position for approximately 69 years — longer than any of his predecessors by a significant margin.

Born at Dublin Zoo, Leo brought a youthful appearance to the role, his smaller mane reflecting his age during the original recording sessions.

You'll recognize him by his open mouth, outward gaze, and the surrounding Latin motto "Ars Gratia Artis." For those curious about the history behind iconic symbols like Leo, trivia and facts organized by category can be a useful way to explore such topics further.

In 2021, MGM modernized Leo's image using CGI technology, filtering out sepia tones and sharpening the film roll, mask, and lettering. This update preserved branding continuity while revitalizing the logo for contemporary audiences — proving Leo's iconic status remains as strong as ever. The studio had previously taken steps to protect this iconic image by trademarking the lion's roar as a sound mark in the 1980s.

The ribbon and lettering surrounding Leo are rendered in gold metallic tones, complementing the realistic lion fur and contributing to the logo's sleek, unified, and classy visual identity.

All Eleven MGM Lions: A Complete Roster From 1916 to Today

While Leo the Lion has held the iconic role for over six decades, he's actually the eleventh lion to grace MGM's logo since the studio's founding. MGM's logo rotation involved carefully selected lions trained by dedicated lion handlers across distinct eras:

1. The Silent Era (1916–1928): Slats, Numa, and Telly laid the groundwork, with Slats never roaring on camera.
2. The Sound and Technicolor Era (1928–1956): Jackie, Bill, Coffee, and Tanner dominated Hollywood's Golden Age, with Jackie appearing in over 100 films.
3. The Transitional Years (1956–present): George and Leo refined the dramatic presentation you recognize today. In 2021, a CGI replacement lion took over, marking the first time the logo featured a fully digital animal rather than a live one.

You might be surprised that eleven lions collectively built one of cinema's most recognizable symbols across more than a century. The original lion roar sound sampled Tanner's recorded roar before being replaced in 1982 with a stereophonic remake by Mark Mangini that incorporated tiger sounds.

MGM's 2021 CGI Lion: What Changed and Why

After more than 60 years of using the same 1957 footage of Leo the Lion, MGM replaced it with a fully CGI version in March 2021, ending nearly a century of live-lion tradition dating back to 1924. The CGI preservation effort was handled by Baked design agency, ensuring the new Leo retained his gold design, iconic roar, and classic monogram elements.

You'll notice the updated intro briefly displays an English slogan before zooming out to reveal the familiar Latin phrase Ars Gratia Artis. This approach reflects strong brand continuity, keeping MGM's visual identity intact while adapting to modern high-definition standards. PETA even awarded MGM for the switch, praising the studio for eliminating live-animal exploitation and encouraging other studios to follow suit. Baked Studios is based in Culver City, California, and described the project as a proud achievement, noting the challenges of innovation, scale, and taste in honoring such a legendary brand.

Before Leo became the face of MGM in 1957, seven other lions — Slats, Jackie, Bill, Telly, Coffee, Tanner, and George — each took their turn roaring for the iconic logo since the studio's founding in 1924.